NA-MICNational Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

Why NITRC Matters to NA-MIC

Steve Pieper, PhD

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

Overview

• NA-MIC and the NA-MIC Community– Range of Projects– Range of Contributors

• Need for Modularity and Scalability• Vision• Status

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

About NA-MIC

• The National Alliance for Medical Image Computing is a National Center for Biomedical Computing (NCBC)– Chartered to Provide Software and Engineering Methodologies

for Biomedical Imaging Research• NA-MIC is Committed to Open Source Software

– A BSD Style License Policy Ensures Full Reusability and Supports Commercialization

– Commercialization is Critical to Translational Research• NA-MIC Provides an End-To-End Platform and Reference

Application Implementations

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

Range of Applications

• Neuroimaging– Registration– Segmentation– Diffusion Analysis– fMRI

• FEM– Meshing, Simulation

• IGT– Pre-Surgical Mapping– Navigation– Robotics– Follow Up

• Other: Prostate, Gyn, Lung, Liver, Vascular, Cardio, Ortho, Craniofacial…

• Astronomy, Paleontology, Geology… Images Courtesy: University of Debrecen, Hungary; Brigham and Women’s Hospital; Massachusetts General Hospital; Texas

A&M University; University of Michigan; University of Iowa

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

• NA-MIC Kit– CMake/CTest/CDash/CPack– Teem– ITK– VTK– KWWidgets– IGSTK– 3D Slicer

• Extensibility– Command Line Modules (Executables that can also be plugins)– Loadable Modules (scripts and shared libraries)

Technology Platform

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

Munich Training Course

• 2 Packed Days, 40 Participants• Cover Spectrum of Use and

Development– Data Visualization– Registration– Tracked Surgical Instruments– Developing Custom Modules

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

NA-MIC Project Week

• 120 Participants• Dozens of Projects• 1 Week at MIT• Hands On Software

Development

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

What does NA-MIC Need?

• A Scalable Development Model– How to Incorporate New Labs and Developers– Give Proper Credit to Contributors

• A Modular Experience for End Users– Help users Assemble a Compatible Set of Tools to Address All

Aspects of their Workflows– Strip Away Unneeded Modules to Streamline Interface and

Improve Efficiency• Clear Framework for Acknowledgement and Support

– Build Communities Around Tools

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

Our NITRC Vision

• With NITRC Support NA-MIC Tools are Becoming more Modular• NA-MIC Encourages our Developers to Structure their Development

as NITRC Projects• A New Infrastructure Supports Slicer Modules as Run Time Plugins

(Loadable Modules)• NA-MIC to Provide User Portal to Browse and Download New

Functionality

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

Status

• Loadable Module Build and Load Funcionality in Place (Terry Lorber and Alex Yarmarkovich)– Demonstrated at Munich Workshop with OpenIGTLink Module– OpenIGTLink Used to Connect 3D Slicer to Commercial

Neuronavigation System (BrainLab) at NA-MIC Project week (thanks to Xenios Papademetris from Yale)

• Modular Build System Implemented (In collaboration with Kitware, Inc.)– Slicer Configuration File Allows Modules from a Variety of Repositories

to be Downloaded and Built as Part of an Integrated System• TODO:

– Module Browse/Download Web Site– Slicer Interface to Install/Uninstall Downloaded Modules– Conversion of Existing Modules to NITRC Framework– Examples and Documentation for New Module Developers

National Alliance for Medical Image Computing http://na-mic.org

Summary

• NITRC Provides a Critical Component in NA-MIC’s Efforts to Deliver a Dynamic, Scalable, and Usable Platform

• Slicer Modules for Neuroimage Analysis are Important Contributions to the NITRC Community– Source Code Reusability– Command Line Executable Versions for Use in Batch/Script

Applications– End-To-End Application Workflows

Thank You